Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Argentine counterpart, Pablo Quirno, on Friday pledged to solidify the comprehensive strategic partnership and deepen cooperation across multiple sectors.
During their meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, recalled Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei in 2024 and said China is ready to fully implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state to improve the well-being of the two peoples.
The two sides should remain committed to the right direction of bilateral relations, he said, calling for enhanced friendly exchanges at all levels and firm support for each other on issues concerning core interests.
He emphasized the resilience of bilateral ties between China and Argentina over the past 54 years since diplomatic relations were established, noting that the two countries have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, and the relationship has weathered international changes with remarkable vitality.
Noting that China and Argentina are economically complementary with a solid foundation for practical cooperation, Wang proposed deepening collaboration in economy and trade, technology, finance, and mining, and welcomed Argentina to utilize platforms such as the China International Import Expo and the Canton Fair to bring more quality products to the Chinese market.
He also expressed hope that Argentina would provide a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises, and welcomed Argentine citizens to take advantage of the visa-free policy for trips to explore China.
"China's development and growth represent a reinforcement of peace and stability in the world," Wang said. "We never engage in geopolitical contests, nor do we ask other countries to take sides. China-Argentina cooperation is not targeted at any third party, nor should it be disrupted by any third-party factors."
For his part, Quirno said Argentina and China are each other's major trading partners and enjoy a comprehensive strategic partnership, stating that Argentina has benefited significantly from cooperation with China.
He also conveyed gratitude for China's valuable support on the sovereignty issue of the Malvinas Islands and for its assistance during Argentina's economic difficulties. Quirno reaffirmed Argentina's firm commitment to the one-China principle.
The Argentine foreign minister expressed hope for closer exchanges with China and deeper cooperation in trade, energy, mining, and finance. He welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Argentina.
China, Argentina pledge mutual support on core interests, deeper economic cooperation
China, Argentina pledge mutual support on core interests, deeper economic cooperation
China, Argentina pledge mutual support on core interests, deeper economic cooperation
South China's Guangdong Province is accelerating its transformation into an international medical tourism hub, positioning itself as a destination for patients worldwide seeking affordable, high-quality care.
The push follows a joint initiative announced in late March by nine Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, aimed at boosting spending by foreign tourists and enhancing exports of tourism services as part of broader efforts to expand the country's service sector.
Every day, some of the most complex surgeries are performed here. Li Zilun, deputy director of the division of vascular surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‑sen University, is among the doctors capable of carrying out these intricate procedures.
He recently completed surgery on a patient with an aortic aneurysm, a condition often described as a "time bomb" in the body’s main artery, increasingly common in aging societies around the globe. Li also specializes in highly difficult and pioneering procedures, including repairing leaks caused by failed grafts.
"This was a very challenging case. And then, we implanted the covered stent to eliminate the endoleak. Actually, the outcome was pretty good. The patient will be discharged today," said Li Zilun.
The ability to handle such complex cases -- combining international techniques with domestically produced devices -- is drawing patients from around the world to seek treatment. In addition, high safety standards and low costs are also major draws.
"Our government is encouraging innovation. So, lots of physicians -- including our vascular surgeons -- we are actively involved in the innovation that helps to increase the effectiveness and safety, and also bring down the cost," said Li.
This hospital is one of the first in Guangdong to be designated by the provincial health commission as a pilot site for building an international medical service hub.
The growing number of patients has pushed the hospital to explore new ways to transform every step -- from treatment to payment and everything in between -- into a seamless experience, reducing waiting times and delivering better care for patients.
"I think it's fast. When the patient come here for just about, I think, one week, you can solve the problem," said Xiao Haipeng, president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.
The hospital is also deepening its international cooperation with top-tier medical institutions, including those at Harvard University.
"Not just for China, for the whole globe, we are facing health care challenges -- emerging infectious disease and chronic, lung infectious diseases, and also the aging population, also the shortage of healthcare workforce," said Xiao.
In response to these challenges, China is promoting its own solutions, including aggressive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflows, while stepping up research and development investment and global engagement along the way.
"In recent years, the innovation in Western medicine is dramatically growing. An example of my hospital -- in the past few years, we have 140 innovations and seven of them are international leading innovations," said Xiao.
As global demand for medical tourism grows, China is positioning itself as a new destination. Official data shows that the number of foreign patients in Guangdong increased by 20 percent last year. Among them, the growth in inpatient admissions was even faster, rising by 76 percent.
Guangdong fast-tracks pilot for int'l medical service hub
